Distributing block



DISTRIBUTING BLCK Yoriginal Filed Nov. 2o. 1923 M11-mim 'l' ATTORNEYS 2? u PM L Patented Feb. `15, 1927.'k

PATENT DISTRIBUTlNG BLOCK.

Original application filedy Novemberk 20, 1923,` Serial No. 675,861. Divided and this application filed December 31, 1923.

My present invention relates to electrical distributing blocks and has a preferred application in relations in which a number of current consuming or translating devices are to be connected in series. The invention has a special application to low voltage, decorative lighting such as for Christmas trees, although Ait is not confined to such application, but may be used in numerousother relations, and may be embodied in constructions for apparatus of greater power consumption.

It is among the objects separately and collectively of the invention to provide a block of the type noted,'with which 'the various lights or other current-consuming elements can 'be readily assembled individually, which will admit of easy connection ofv any number of 'said block assemblies across a singlecurrent-outlet, such as a wall socket, and which will facilitate the almost instant locationof a defective lamp or other element of the group associated with any block, so that the group can be easily restored to operativeness without tedious improvised test-s.

Another object is to provide'a device of the ltype indicated, of simple and inexpensive construction, without delicate parts Vlikely to become out of order and-in which all of 'the electrical connecting contacts or live parts are protected in the interior against'thev vided with outlets aligned with the termi` nais, so that conductors can be connected in series by said contacts. To eachof the first and last of the terminals, a conductor is af'- tiXed, connected by a conventional push connector for placing the block in circuit.

According to another feature, the first and last terminals liaveeach a contact,v preferably in an integral structure therewith, at which the push connector plug of another block, which may be of identical construction, may be connected ,to be supplied in parallel from a block, in turn, connected at a wall socket or other outlet. v

According to another feature, the block is l provided with asw'itching or testing arrangement, operable manually from theexterior, and comprisinga switch with a Contact sur@ seriai No. 683,681'.

face of width suiiicient vto vbridge consecutive contacts in the block, so that in operation of the switch, the -lamps or other current consuming devices, would be short-cii'cuited in succession, only one at a time, whereby the instant a defective lamp ofthe group is short-'circuited, the remaining lamps will glow, thereby locating the faulty one.

- In ar preferred application, the switch block is yembodied in a circular construction, the contacts on 'the arcof a circle concentric therewith, the test switch operated by al rotary knob. projecting from the cover, `which f encloses' the switch and the contacts,y the block Abase having outlet notches for conductors which gare, moreover, 'positioned near their inner ends in a gap between the base block rand the cover fiange which is teleofthe several features of the invention,

Fig. l 1s a view in longitudinal cross-section of the preferred Iform of switch block,

Figa?l is a bottom plan thereof,

Fig. Bis a bottom planof the cover, and,

Fig; 't is a; plan view of the switch block base, yillustrating the electrical connection of theassociated parts. This application is -a divisionof my copending, application, 7Serial No. 675,861,1iled November 20, 1923. Y'

Referring 'now to the drawings, I have shown a @combined distributing and test block, comprising an insulating circular base member 10y having thereon a succession vof nine terminals C, C2, C3, etc. The terminals in the preferred embodimentshown, comprise small generally rectangular blanks which may be of brass extending along radii of the base block, each secui'ed'thereto by a corresponding brass rivet 12, the locus of 4s aid rivets on a circlecon'centric with said block. As best indicated in Fig. l, the rivet is applied through thelowerface of the block withr itslower VAhead against the shoul-v der 15 determining the bore near the upper Vtace of the bleek, `within whichthe shank shown one yof various possible embodiments corresponding notches 18 in a flange 19 on.

the block base, whereupon the rivet shanks are crimped over to form heads 2O for securing said terminal blanks in position. Between the pairs ol contacts C, C2 are to be connected a pair of conductors 21 and 22 preferably by soldering thereto as at 23, the

outer ends ot said conductors to be connected to the terminals of a current-consuming element, such as a miniature lamp socket (not shown). Similar connections are made 'between each terminal and the succeeding one, two conductors being thus soldered to each of the intermediate terminal blanks (lL-CS, and one to each ot the first and last terminal blanks C and C9, which latter are the main terminals. At lateral extensions 25 of said terminals C and C9 are soldered afs at 26, the supply leads 27 from any conventional form of electric plug P illustratively, a two-prong plug which may be applied at any Vwall socket, lamp socket or other electric outlet, in the decorative lighting application. i

In'the embodiment shown, a cover 2S is supported upon the upstanding flange 19 on the base block, which extends into a corresponding groove 29 in said cover. rThe coverk is also provided with a flange 30 extending about the inner ends of the various conductors 22 and 23 that protrudethrough the notches 18 in the base block, said conductors extending from between a lateral lange 3l on the base block and the lower edge ot the cover flange. As shown, the telecoping cover llange 30 is spaced suiliciently from the base wall to accommodate the conductors. rlhe cover 2S may be secured to the base 10 by a screw 32 extending through the base, midway between terminal contacts C and C, and with its head countersunk as at 32 at the bottom, of the base and with a corr vsponding hexagonal nut 34 fitting in a corresponding Y hexagonal depression 35 in the upperv surface ot" the cover,

The construction thus far described, comprises a mounting block for connecting a number of current consuming devices, such as miniature electric lamps, in series. ln the preferred embodiment shown, the tirst and last terminals C and C are ot special form and include integral lateral tongues extending downward vrespectively into corresponding rectangular tunnels 46 through the base or the block, each having a reversely bent upward extending portion Zl-7 with an einhossment 48 thereon to VVAprovide an adequate spring Contact lfor a conventionaltwo-prong plug oit the saine type ,as that appearing at P. The plug` l may thus be applied and removed without interference with the protruding conductors,

By the arrangement described, it will beV seen that any number oi the blocks decribed, each provided with a two-prong plug as shown in Fig. 4;, may be connected in circuit across a single wall out-let or other source of current, the plug tor each block being applied at plug terminals 45 of. another block, and the plug P oi the final block being connected to the wall switch or socket. Thus, by the use ot any number oi? blocks of the identical construction shown, a corresponding multiple ot eight n'iiniature electric lamps may be supplied'from a singie wall outlet. rl`he eight lamps connected at each block are thus connected in series across the line, the various blocks with their lamps being connected in parallel.

Of course, the block may be provided with more or less than the number ot contacts shown for connecting in series, a greater or lesser number than eight lamps or other current consuming devicesv ot appropriate voltage. Y

In the preferred embodiment, the block is provided with special means by which a detective one or the multiplicity ot series-connected laines or other devices mounted thereby, Vcan be located almost instantly. For this purpose, I provide a manually operated switch, the contact surface of which will bridge across the gaps consecutively between the rivet contacts 12 ot' the terminals C, as the switch is operated, thereby successively short-circuiting the lamps or other devices, renderng the other lampsor current consuming devices operative, the instant the detective one is short-circuited by the switch arm.

ln the preferred embodiment, the cover is molded with an integral hub 36 at the lower surface thereof to provide a greater length ot bearing surface for the screw 32 and to Y serve as a stop for the switch arm 37. Switch arm 37 which may be a blank oi brass is pivotally mounted at the center o't' the cover and is ot sutlicient width to bridge consecutive rivet heads 2 as' it is rotated. For operating the switch arm, the insulating knob 38 is provided on'the cover and is rigidly connected to the SwitchV arm by a bolt pin 39 molded in the knob and extending axially "hrough the cover. The switch arm 37 is clamped against a shoulder el() ony pin 39 by a nut ,41 threaded onto the lower endY of said pin, Clearance @l2v is Lprovided for said nut in the base 12, and the nut pin 39 and switch arm 37 Vare preferably soldered together at to maintain the rigidity ot the assemblyusothat the switch arm 37 will turn in unison with the knob 38. The switch Aarm is preferably sprung as at 44 CVD to provide a spring contact on the successive rivet heads 12 as the knob is rotated inthe process'ot short-,circuitmg any one ofthe series-connected lapparatus in the decorative lighting application, tor locating a detective lamp. l

It will be understood, otcourse, that with the detective lamp short-circuited, the remaining lamps maybe kept in service. Pret! erably, however, the detect-ive or dark lamp located by the operation ot the switch, would be, replaced by an operative one andl the rswitch returned to its extreme position against lug 3G to place the complete set in circuit, thereby avoiding over-voltage on the lamps or other units. Y

it will be seen that the distributing and switch bloei; is ot particularly simple and durable construction, without delicate exposed parts that are likely to be deranged. It is also seen that the main terminals and the various terminal plates and switch contact rivets as well as the switch blade are protected within the block against any possibility of' short-circuit, or shock to the person operating the block, and that the ciin cuitous cours-es or gaps provided torrexit ot the conductors soldered or otherwise secured to the terminal plates ser fe to position said conductors against shitting without exposing any ot the live parts in the block unit. Operation ot the switch, it is also seen, does not result in any abrasion of the conductors, the insulation on which will not be rubbed oft as it might-it the switch operating parts' suited Ato meet the lretpiirements of practi` cal use. Y f

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely di'lferent embodiments ot this invention could be made without departing trom the scope thereof', it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. f

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is 1. An electrical distributing bloclr unit comprising a base having a plurality of electrical terminals fixed thereon and insulated trom the back of said base, a cover enclosing said terminals to protect thesame,

,said unit having outlet passages between said base and said cover for electrical conductors to be alfixed to the respective terminals, and means retaining said cover and base in assembled relation and serving to 'locate the conductorsin -the assembled and installed device.

2. In an electrical distributing'blocl, in combination, an insulating base having Va plural-ity of terminals in fixed relation thereon and insulatedgtrom the back thereof, a cover enclosing and protecting said terminals, 'said/cover `having a late-ral wall eX- tending overthe lateral wall otsaid base in spaced relation with respect thereto for exit of conductors vto be connected to the various terminals, said 4block having main terininals through which vcurrent may be sup,- plied inseries to and through the various conductors. l

3. An 'electrical distributing-block com prising in combination, a circular insulating base, 'terminals mounted in the arc of a circle at one Vtace thereof, an insulating cover having a lflange telescoped over the lateral wall of said base and protecting said terminals, said base havingan upstanding flange sustaining said cover, said. flange having notches aligned with said terminals, and said cover flange being spaced from the cylindrical wall ot said vblock to provide outlets for conductors to be affixed to the contacts'and to protrude through said notches, said unit having main terminals betweeny which the conductors are connected-in series circuit.

4:. An electrical distributing block unit comprising in combination, complementary base and cover members ot insulating material, electrical terminals fixed in said base and vprotected by said cover, outlets in said unit tor electrical conductors to be attached to the various terminals, the first and the last yot said terminals havingintegral terminal contormationsexposed from the back of the base for application of an electrical terminaliplug through Awhich the conductors and current consuming'- `devices at theV ends ot the latter may be connected in series circuit relation.

5. The combination 'setiforthin claim 4l in' which the base and cover are provided with tunnel outlets therebetween through which the conductors may extend for protrusion trom the side ot the block and by which they are retained against shitting.

6. An electrical distributing block comprising, in combination, a circularbase member, a plurality ot terminals aflixed thereto l scoped over the base in spaced relation with respect thereto for exit of saidy conductors.

8. A switch block comprising a Vcircular base, a succession oit contacts thereon arranged concentrically of the block, an integral upstanding flange on said block having notches therein for exit ot conductors connected to said contacts, a cover secured toV said block and having a flange covering thc inner ends of said conductors, so that the latter protrude from between the base of said block and the edge of said flange, and a n switch mounted in said cover and having an operating knob for successively bridging between consecutive contacts.

9. vA circular block having a plurality of contacts affixed to the upper surface thereof in a concentric circular arc, a cover athxed to said base and having a. Vflange telescoped thereover, outlets between said cover and said base for electrical conductors connected to the various contacts, a switch member having a pivot mount in said cover and having an exposed operating handle, said switch member having a contacting surface f of width suiiicient to bridge between two consecutive contacts, whereby in switch operation, the current consuming .elements connected between the consecutive contacts will be consecutively short-circuited.

l0. A combined distributing and test block Vcomprising a circular base, a plurality of contacts aixed thereon at uniform intervals, on an arc concentric with said base, said base having an upstanding' Vflange, a cover sustainedV upon said flange, bolt through said base and saidv cover connecting the parts in assembled relation, terminal plates rigid with said contacts and extending into y corresponding notches in said flange through which conductors secured thereto may protrude to the exterior of the block, said cover having a telescoping flange in spaced relation with respect to the base for exit ot said conductors, a switch blade concentric with said base and having a pivot mount in said cover and having an operating contact surface of width to bridge between two andr only two consecutive contacts, and an operating knob for said blade at the exterior of said cover. f

ll. The combination set forth in claim l() in which the ,first and last of the contacts is formed with an integral terminal conformation protruding downward into corresponding tunnels through said'block for application of an electrical terminal plug through the back ot said block for effecting circuit connection.

l2. An electrical contact block comprising a base of insulating material, terminal plates thereon, contact rivet members, through corresponding apertures in said base and securing said plates in position, and insulating plugs lling the apertures through said base back of the rivets.

18. An electrical switch block comprising a circular base having an upsta-nding peripheral flange, terminal plates resting 0n said base and extending radially into corresponding notches in said flange, contact rivet ineinbers fixed in said base and insulating plugs filling apertures in said base loackoi:l said rivets rthrough which the latter are applied, said rivets extending through corresponding apertures in the terminal plates and having heads clamping'the plates in fixed position, and a rotary switch blade having said heads in the path of displacement thereof.

Signed at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of NewV York, this 24th day of December A. D. 1923.

' HERBERT J. NENNO. 

